Flow-Responsive, Self-Adjusting Sediment Control Wattle

Abstract

A sediment control device for attachment to a surface with liquid flow moving in a flow direction includes a base fastenable to the surface, the base including a trailing portion, a central portion adjacent the trailing portion, and a distal portion adjacent the central portion; a first core located at the central portion; a second core located at the distal portion; a fastening element for fastening the base to the surface with the trailing portion in a downstream location and the distal portion in an upstream location relative to the flow direction, the fastening element being vertically aligned with the first core; and the base movable from a first position in which the second core is generally horizontally adjacent the first core along the surface to a second position in which the second core is generally vertically raised relative to the first core and the surface.

1 . A sediment control device for attachment to a surface with liquid flow moving in a flow direction, the sediment control device comprising:
 a base fastenable to the surface, the base including a trailing portion, a central portion adjacent the trailing portion, and a distal portion adjacent the central portion;   a first core located at the central portion;   a second core located at the distal portion;   a fastening element for fastening the base to the surface with the trailing portion in a downstream location and the distal portion in an upstream location relative to the flow direction, the fastening element being vertically aligned with the first core; and   the base configured from a flexible material so as to be movable from a first position in which the second core is generally horizontally adjacent the first core along the surface to a second position in which the second core is generally vertically raised relative to the first core and the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the second core defines a first maximum height above the surface when in the first position and defines a second maximum height above the surface when in the second position, the second maximum height being greater than the first maximum height. 
     
     
         3 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the second maximum height is at least about 1.5 times the first maximum height. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein when the base is in the first position, the second core has a width and a height, the width being at least about 1.5 times the height. 
     
     
         7 . The sediment control device of  claim 6 , wherein when the base is in the second position, the second core is atop the first core. 
     
     
         8 . The sediment control device of  claim 7 , wherein when the base is in the second position, the second core has a width and a height, the height being at least about 1.5 times the width. 
     
     
         9 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein when the base is in the first position, the first core has a height and the second core has a height and a width, the height and the width of the second core both being greater than the height of the first core. 
     
     
         10 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is formed of a sheet of a geotextile fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The sediment control device of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet has a first end at the trailing portion and a second end at the trailing portion, the sheet being joined to itself along a seam proximate the first end and the second end, and also being joined to itself so as to be configured with a living hinge along and between the central portion and the distal portion, the seam and the living hinge defining a first pocket in the sheet, the living hinge defining a second pocket in the sheet, the first core located in the first pocket, the second core located in the second pocket. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The sediment control device of  claim 11 , wherein the base has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and wherein the first core and the second core are each formed in at least two sections spaced on opposite sides of a fold line extending perpendicular to the surface when the base is in the first position so that the base is foldable at the fold line for non-linear installation of the base along the surface. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The sediment control device of  claim 13 , wherein the first pocket is divided into parts by lateral seams extending between the seam and the living hinge, each part of the first pocket holding a respective one of the sections of the first core. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the second core includes a closed cell foam with a specific gravity lower than a specific gravity of water. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first core includes a strip made of a polymer. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element includes an adhesive fastener on a bottom side of the base beneath the first core. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The sediment control device of  claim 22 , wherein the base has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and the adhesive fastener extends along a direction between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge to provide a seal between the bottom side of the base and the surface. 
     
     
         25 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the first core and the second core each including a lateral end spaced inwardly from one of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge by an overlap distance so that multiple sediment control devices may be adjacently attached to the surface with the respected bases, the respective first cores, and the respective second cores substantially aligned with an amount of overlap substantially equal to the overlap distance. 
     
     
         26 . The sediment control device of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the fastening element including a plurality of rigid fasteners extending through the base and the first core at locations between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         27 . The sediment control device of  claim 26 , wherein the fastening element includes an adhesive fastener on a bottom side of the base beneath the first core extending along a direction between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A sediment control device for attachment to a surface with a self-adjusting barrier height above the surface depending on an amount of liquid flow moving in a flow direction along the surface, the sediment control device comprising:
 a base fastenable to the surface, the base including a trailing portion, a central portion adjacent the trailing portion, and a distal portion adjacent the central portion;   a first core located at the central portion;   a second core located at the distal portion;   a fastening element for fastening the base to the surface along the first core with the trailing portion in a downstream location and the distal portion in an upstream location relative to the flow direction; and   the base configured from a material so as to be movable wherein:
 before impact of a liquid flow in the flow direction, the base is in a first position in which the second core is generally adjacent the first core along the surface and the second core has a first maximum height; and 
 upon impact of a liquid flow in the flow direction, the base is in a second position in which the second core is generally vertically raised relative to the first core and above the surface and the second core has a second maximum height at least 1.5 times the first maximum height. 
   
     
     
         30 . The sediment control device of  claim 29 , wherein when the base is in the first position, the second core has a width and a height, the width being at least about 1.5 times the height. 
     
     
         31 . The sediment control device of  claim 30 , wherein when the base is in the second position, the second core is atop the first core. 
     
     
         32 . The sediment control device of  claim 31 , wherein when the base is in the second position, the second core has a width and a height, the height being at least about 1.5 times the width. 
     
     
         33 . The sediment control device of  claim 29 , wherein the base is formed of a sheet of a geotextile fabric, the sheet having a first end at the trailing portion and a second end at the trailing portion, the sheet being joined to itself along a seam proximate the first end and the second end, and also being joined to itself so as to be configured with a living hinge along and between the central portion and the distal portion, the seam and the living hinge defining a first pocket in the sheet, the living hinge defining a second pocket in the sheet, the first core located in the first pocket, the second core located in the second pocket. 
     
     
         34 . The sediment control device of  claim 33 , wherein the second core pivots about 90 degrees via the living hinge when the base moves from the first position to the second position.